Junior Holden Bucher (10) pushes upfield against Fisher's Cody Gaesser during the final game of the 2007 Uni High Soccer Shoot Out. Although the Illineks ended the match tied with Fisher 1-1, they claimed the tournament title with a 2-0-1 record. Gargoyle photo by Sindha Agha (click to enlarge)

(For the complete photo gallery of the Soccer Shoot Out, click here.)

URBANA — The 2007 Illineks opened their season today in a familiar way: by winning the Uni High Soccer Shoot Out. It's the seventh time in as many years that the hosts have won the tournament.

The Illineks clinched the title by tying Fisher 1-1 in the final game of the day at the DCR Soccer Complex.

Fisher began the scoring 11 minutes into the contest.

“It was just us not clearing the ball properly,” coach Phil Anders said of the rare defensive lapse.

With 3 minutes left in the first half, forward Eddie Diazmunoz evened the score on an unassisted play.

It was the sophomore’s second score of the day. His goal against Blue Ridge in Uni’s second match of the tournament was the difference in a 1-0 victory.

Uni finished the Shoot Out 2-0-1, followed by Oakwood (1-1-1), Blue Ridge (1-2), and Fisher (0-1-2).

This year’s tourney victory wasn’t as dominating as last year’s, when Uni outscored its three opponents 18-4, led by then-senior Michael Belmont’s 5 goals. That 2006 squad went on to become the winningest team in Uni boys soccer history, finishing 17-4-1 and coming within one game of advancing to the IHSA Class A state tournament.

But for a team missing such standouts as Belmont, a News-Gazette all-area pick who scored 30 goals last season and 57 in his career, as well as News-Gazette honorable mentions Martin Granick and Jeremy Pillow, the latest edition of the Illineks showed plenty of positives, according to Anders.

The defense, led by junior Carter Hutchens and senior T.J. Bozada, was outstanding in all three games, Anders said. Senior goalkeeper Isaac Radnitzer finished the tourney with 30 saves and gave up only 2 goals.

The offense, led by senior Jake Seeley, showed flashes of what it’s capable of. Against Fisher, facing an opponent who “packed the box,” as Seeley put it, Uni still got off 12 shots on goal.

Besides Diazmunoz’s 2 goals, sophomore Dan Lilly also scored twice on the day, followed by Seeley, senior Sam Imlay, and junior Holden Bucher with 1 goal each.

Up next for the Illineks: a visit to Judah Christian on Tuesday. The varsity is scheduled to play at 4:30 p.m.

2007 UNI HIGH SOCCER SHOOT OUT

Third Game: UNI vs. Fisher

UNI 1, Fisher 1 (UNI wins tournament title with 2-0-1 record)

UNI SCORING

First half, 3 minutes left: Eddie Diazmunoz, unassisted

UNI FINAL STATS

Eddie Diazmunoz, 1 goal (unassisted)

Isaac Radnitzer, 11 saves (7 in first half, 4 in second)

Second Game: UNI vs. Blue Ridge

UNI 1, Blue Ridge 0

UNI SCORING

Second half, 7 minutes, 35 seconds left: Eddie Diazmunoz, with Holden Bucher assist

UNI FINAL STATS

Eddie Diazmunoz, 1 goal

Holden Bucher, 1 assist

Isaac Radnitzer, 13 saves (5 in first half, 8 in second)

First Game: UNI vs. Oakwood

UNI 5, Oakwood 1

UNI SCORING

First half, 9 minutes left: Dan Lilly, with Sam Imlay assist

First half, 7 minutes left: Holden Bucher, with Stephen Prochaska assist

SCORE AT HALFTIME: UNI 2, Oakwood 1

Second half, 17 minutes left: Jake Seeley, with Sam Imlay assist

Second half, 6 minutes left: Sam Imlay, with Jake Seeley assist

Second half, 2 minutes left: Dan Lilly, with David Hjelmstad assist

UNI FINAL STATS

Dan Lilly, 2 goals

Sam Imlay, 1 goal, 2 assists

Jake Seeley, 1 goal, 1 assist

Holden Bucher, 1 goal

David Hjelmstad, 1 assist

Stephen Prochaska, 1 assist

Isaac Radnitzer, 6 saves (3 in each half)